Stool or chair



Dec. 29, 1942. B. F. HAMILTON ET AL 2,306,879

STOOL OR CHAIR Filed Feb. l0, 1941 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 STOOL OR CHAIR Bertis F. Hamilton, Earl F. Hamilton, William S. Hamilton, and Clarence 0. Hamilton, Columbus, 1nd.

Application February 10, 1941, Serial No. 378,208

8 Claims.

It is the object of my invention to produce a stool or chair which can be simply and economically manufactured, which can be shipped in knocked-down condition in a compact package, and which can be readily assembled by the retailer or purchaser. A further object of my invention is to produce a stool or chair of the type indicated which, when assembled, will be rigid and sturdy.

In carrying out my invention, I form the stool or chair with a seat provided with a depending peripheral flange having at circumferential intervals provisions for the reception of separate legs. Each leg is formed at its upper end with provisions interfitting with those on the seatflange and adapted, when the leg is in position, to form a rigid connection holding the leg in fixed position relative to the seat against all movement except a swinging movement in a plane radial with respect to the seat. After the legs have been attached to the seat and the aforesaid provisions interfltted, there is applied to the legs a rigid ring which holds them in fixed position relative to each other and prevents the swinging movement necessary to disengage the provisions interconnecting the legs with the seatange.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of my invention: Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan view of a stool; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of a peripheral portion of the stool-seat; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 9; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 'I-1 of Fig. 8 showing the connection between one of the stool-legs and the ring above referred to; Fig. 8 is a fragmental elevation of the parts illustrated in section in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a fragmental .elevation of the top of one of the legs and the adjacent portion of the seat; and Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line III-I0 of Fig. 9.

The seat I0 of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawing is provided with a depending peripheral ilange having an upper portion II and a lower portion I2 of larger diameter than the portion II and separated therefrom by a step or shoulder I3. The extreme lower edge of the flange-portion I2 is desirably turned inwardly as indicated at I4 for the purpose of improving appearance and strengthening the flange.

At points where legs are to be attached to the seat, the step or shoulder I3 is cut away as indicated at I5 in Fig. 4; and adjacent the sides of the opening' I5 the iiange-portion I2 is formed to provide two outwardly opening, vertically extending grooves IB. In the stool illustrated in the drawing, the seat III is circular and the four legs 2|) which support that seat are identical with each other. Eacn of such legs is desirably formed of sheet-metal in a channel-section, the lower ends of the legs being provided with cushioning tips 2I of rubber or some similar material. At its upper end, the cross-sectional curvature of each leg 20 is gradually reduced until it conforms approximately to the curvature f the flange-portion I2, and the extreme upper end of the leg is offset inwardly as indicated in Fig. 10 to provide a horizontally extending shoulder 23 anda generally vertically extending lip or tongue 24. Immediately below the shoulder 23 the side edges of each leg are turned inwardly to form flanges 25 (Fig. 5) receivable within the grooves I6 in the flange-portion I2.

To maintain the lower ends of the legs 20 in fixed relation to each other, I desirably employ a ring formed of two semicircular strips of sheetmetal 30 channel-like in cross-section. One end of each of the semicircular pieces 30 is provided with an inwardly oiset tongue 3| which, when the two pieces are brought together to form a circular ring, overlaps the adjacent end of the other piece, as indicated in Fig. 7. The two pieces 30 desirably meet at points adjacent diagonally opposite legs 20, and each tongue 3| and the piece it overlaps are provided with alined openings for the reception of a bolt 32 which extends also through the adjacent leg. Where the ring 30 crosses other legs, additional bolts 32 are provided for securing the ring and those additional legs together. Desirably, as Will-be clear from Fig. 5,`

the material of each leg is offset inwardly where the ring formed by the two pieces 30 crosses it so as to provide a guiding or locating shoulder for such ring.

The stool shown in the drawing is provided with a back 35 desirably formed of sheet-metal and secured as by welding to two sheet-metal supports 36. The lower ends of such supports are secured to the flange II-I2 by bolts 31, as indicated in Fig. 3.

I contemplate that the parts of the stool or chair embodying my invention will, as manufactured by the manufacturer, be painted or otherwise finished and shipped in knocked-down condition in a suitable packing case. To erect the device, the legs are successively attached to the seat I0, the ring 30 is secured to the lower ends of the legs, and the back 35-36 then attached.

In bringing each leg into association with the seat. the leg is held approximately co-planar with the seat and the tongue 24 and shoulder 23 are inserted through one of the openings I5 in the shoulder I3. as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10. rlhe resulting engagement of the angle between the shoulder 23and tongue 24 with the inner edge of the opening I5 aiords a pivotal connection about which the leg may be swung downwardly relatively to the sea* to bring the leg into the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 10. In this position, the iianges 25 on the leg are received within the grooves I6 in the flange-portion I2, thus preventing any movement of the leg except; in a plane parallel to the grooves and flanges. The shoulder 23 engages the lower edge of the ilange-portion II and the upper edge of the flange-portion I2 at the sides of the opening I5, thus preventing any upward or downward movement of the leg relative to the seat. The tongue 24 at the extreme upper end of the leg engages the inner face of the flange-portion II and prevents the upper end of the leg from moving outwardly relative to the seat. When the ring-parts 30 are applied to the lower ends of the legs, the legs are all firmly connected together and the stool is rigidly assembled. Desirably, to take up any looseness or lost motion the tongue 24 is so formed as to engage either the under surface of the seat I0 or the inner surface of the flange II shortly before the leg, in its downward swinging movement, reaches the position it is eventually to occupy. This arrangement results in the imposition of a light stress in the leg and prevents any rattling such as would result from looseness. If, as is shown in the drawing, the upper end of the tongue 24 engages the lower surface of the seat it may aid in transmitting to the legs any load applied to the seat.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a stool or chair, a generally horizontal sheet-metal seat provided with a peripheral flange having an upper portion, an outwardly extending intermediate portion forming a shoulder, and a lower portion of larger diameter than said upper portion, said intermediate portion being provided at intervals with leg-receiving openings, the lower portion of said flange being formed at the ends of each of said openings to provide outwardly opening, downwardly extending grooves, a leg for each of said openings, said leg being formed of sheet-metal and having its upper end olset to provide an inwardly extending shoulder engaging the inner edge of the associated opening and a lip engaging the inner surface of the seat, said leg below said shoulder having its edges bent inwardly to form flanges received in said grooves, and a ring disposed near the lower ends of said legs and secured there- 2. In a stool or chair, a generally horizontal sheet-metal seat provided with a peripheral ilange having an upper portion, an outwardly extending intermediate portion forming a shoulder, and a lower portion of larger diameter than said upper portion, said intermediate portion being provided at intervals with leg-receiving openings, a leg associated with each of said openings, said leg having at its upper end a lip engageable with the inner edge of the opening when the leg is in a position generally co-planar with the seat to provide a pivotal connection about which the leg can be swung downwardly toward a normal,

generally vertical position, said leg and the lowerA portion of said flange having provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg and co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and a ring secured to the legs near the a position generally co-planar with the seat to provide a pivotal connection about which the leg can be swung downwardly toward a normal, generally vertical position, said leg and the lower portion of said iiange having provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg a'nd co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and means rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of said legs.

4. In a stool or chair, a generally horizontal sheet-metal seat having a downwardly extending peripheral flange having anintermediate horizontal portion, said horizontal flange-portion being provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a leg associated with each of said openings, said leg being formed at its upper end to provide means engageable with one edge of the associated opening'to provide a pivotal connection about which the leg may be swung downwardly toward a normal vertical position, said leg and said iiange having below the opening provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg and co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and a ring secured to the legs near the lower end thereof.

5. In a stool or chair, a generally horizontal sheet-metal seat having a downwardly extending peripheral ange having a horizontal portion, said horizontal flange-portion being provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a leg associated with each of said openings, said leg being formed at its upper end to provide means engageable with one edge of the associated opening to provide a pivotal connection about which the leg may be swung downwardly toward a normal vertical position, said leg and said flange having vertically extending, interfltting provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg and co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and a ring secured to the legs near the lower end thereof.

6. In a stool or chair, a `generally horizontal sheet-metalV seat having a downwardly extending peripheral ange having a horizontal portion, said horizontal flange-portion being provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a leg associated with each of said openings, said leg being formed at its upper end to provide vmeans engageable with one edge of the associated opening to provide a pivotal connection about which the leg may be swung downwardly toward a normal vertical position, said leg and said'flange having vertically extending, intertting provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg and co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and means rigidly interconnecting the lower ends of said legs. Y

7. In a stool or chair, a generally horigontal sheet-metal seat having a generally downwardly extending peripheral ange having a plurality of spaced openings, a leg associated with each of said openings, said leg being formed at its upper end to provide means engageable with one edge of the associated opening to provide a pivotal connectionabout which the leg may be swung downwardly toward a normal vertical position, said leg and said ilange having below the opening vertically extending. intertting provisions engageable by such swinging movement of the leg and co-operating when engaged to prevent movement of the leg about a horizontal axis radial of the seat, and a ring secured to the legs near the lower end thereof.

8. In a stool or chair, a generally horizontal ring secured to the legs near the lower end thereof.

BERTIS F. HAMILTON. EARL F. HAMILTON. WILLIAM S. HAMILTON. CLARENCE O. HAMILTON. 

